Principal's Message

Term 4 - Week 8

As we approach the busy end to the 2023 school year, please keep an eye out for special activities and events that are coming up.  Please make sure you keep up to date with all our platforms, especially COMPASS, Newsletter and the Yearly Planner/Calendar.  

I really enjoyed attending our  Year 12 Graduation Dinner last Friday evening. Thanks must go to Mrs Carol Woodman & Mr Mark Gretgrix (MC), who organised a tremendous evening.  There were many highlights including the 'most likely' awards to their classmates presented by School Captains Eliza Turnbull and Zen Joyner.  Both School Captains delivered an excellent speech highlighting special memories of their time at Wedderburn College.   Thanks to all parents, friends and students for attending and making it a great night.  An additional highlight of the evening was an inspiring speech from ex-student John McNamara.  John detailed his journey outlining his memories of him having a 'rough finish' to his time at Wedderburn College. John shared of his father and grandfather passing away within a month of each other while he was completing his VCE. He continued to give some sound advice to all students in the room, including to use their resilience and when to recognise the need for their support network.  John didn't attend University and TAFE, but tried many job opportunities which helped build a network of support and friends, thus helping him to his success today.    John works for the Federal Government in cyber security.  Although he was limited with what he could share, he does however have the highest level of security in Australia. He travels on a special passport and has worked around the world.  

Student Leadership School and Community Learning Project 

Well done to Ella Weber, Sianna Thomas and Lillian Stephenson who together  conducted a combined fundraiser and book drive last Friday. 'Crazy sock/Hair day' was hugely successful across the college. 

These three students attended the 'Students for School Leadership' school in Don Valley in 2022. As part of the program the students had to complete a 'Community Learning Project' (CLP). The girls came up with the idea of a Community Library Project for Wedderburn.   Thanks to the VM classes and staff for helping out by building the library boxes and also to everyone for donating hundreds of books.  

On Friday Miss Van de Wetering, Miss Milne and myself will be visiting our six students who are currently at the 'Students for School Leadership' Alpine school at Dinner Plain in the high country for their CLP presentation.

Kwong Lee Dow Scholars Program

Congratulations to our Year 10 student, Lillian Stephenson who has been awarded a Kwong Lee Dow Young scholarship.   The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program is an academic enrichment program designed to support high-achieving secondary school students in achieving their personal best. Successful applicants will take part in an exciting two-year program of events and activities that will expand their academic and personal horizons and set them up for success at Melbourne and beyond. Once you complete secondary studies, you may be offered a guaranteed place in an undergraduate degree, financial assistance to move to Melbourne and an overseas scholarship during your studies.    We congratulate Lillian and wish her all the best over the next two years.  

Year 3/4 Camp and Year 9 Camp

Don't forget next week we have the Year 3/4 and Year 9 camps.   Make sure you are packed and ready to travel on Monday.   Due to the new agreement, our staff are entitled to Time in Lieu, our staff members on these camps will have the day immediately following camp as a Time in Lieu.   No classes will be operating for those year levels the day after camp. 

Planning for 2024 (Repeat)

We are currently trying to finalise our planning for 2024. If you know that your circumstances may change at the beginning of the school year, please contact the school office or Home-room teacher.  Looking forward to 2024, and with the positive growth in student numbers at Wedderburn College we have had to make some further changes to our classroom structure in 2024.    We are committing to having two Year 7 classes for the first time in a long time.  As you maybe aware, Victoria is experiencing the biggest teacher shortage in almost 40 years, however we are extremely close to filling all position, which I hope to have completed in the next two weeks. We will keep you informed of staffing, classes and other information for 2024  and we hope to release and publish this information in two weeks time.  

2023 End of Year Arrangements

As per our school calendar:

Thursday 7th December. Year 6 Graduation Invitations sent home.

Monday 11th-12th Activities Week Year 7-9.

Tuesday 12th Awards Night

Wednesday 13th Pool Party 

Thursday & Friday school clean up & last day of OHSC

Students' final day of formal classes will be  Friday 8th December.  All school reports, books and lockers must be emptied and any other items will be sent home on this day with students. Please ensure your child/ren have extra carry bags on that day.   School reports will be handed out at Awards Night on Tuesday 13th December.  

Families who still require supervision of students can only do so on Thursday 14 December to Friday 15 December as teachers will be working on a completely different timetable. All staff members will be involved in training activities throughout this time. Please refer to our yearly calendar.  For example; all staff will be involved in Berry Street Wellbeing Professional Development and first aid training.